The President of Venezuela's National Assembly disclosed that over 1,500 political prisoners have submitted clemency petitions under the newly enacted law. Authorities have begun processing releases according to the law, which was passed by the Assembly just days ago, amid criticism from opposition groups and human rights organizations about its ambiguity and limited scope of pardon.
Jorge Rodriguez, President of Venezuela's National Assembly, revealed on Saturday, 21 Feb 2024 GMT+7, that currently 1,557 political prisoners have filed clemency requests under the new law announced last Thursday.
Rodriguez stated that the government is reviewing the petitions "immediately" and aims for the law to ultimately cover the release of up to 11,000 prisoners. The first group to be freed are those detained at "El Helicoide," the infamous prison in Caracas, expected to be released within the next few hours.
This move follows the U.S. deployment of forces to capture Nicolás Maduro on 3 January 2024 GMT+7, after which the U.S. pressured the interim government to expedite the release of long-held political prisoners from Maduro's tenure.
Despite reports of prisoner releases including prominent opposition politician Juan Pablo Guanipa, human rights groups and scholars have noted the law contains "hidden conditions," particularly excluding clemency for those who previously advocated for foreign military intervention in Venezuela.
Legal experts view these provisions as specifically targeting Maria Corina Machado, the latest Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Additionally, the law appears to exclude several dozen military officers who attempted rebellions against Maduro's government in recent years.
Currently, Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are detained awaiting trial in the U.S. on drug and arms charges; Maduro denies all allegations, claiming prisoner of war status.
El Helicoide prison, known for severe human rights abuses according to activists, was declared by former President Donald Trump to be permanently closed after Maduro's capture. Meanwhile, relatives of some detainees have begun hunger strikes to pressure for the swift release of their loved ones.
/BBC